Severity of Vomiting

The following is an arbitrary attempt to classify vomiting by risk for dehydration:

MILD: 1 - 2 times/day

MODERATE: 3 - 7 times/day

SEVERE: Vomits everything or nearly everything or 8 or more times/day

Severity relates even more to the length of time that the particular severity level has persisted. At the beginning of a vomiting illness (especially following food poisoning), it's common for a child to vomit everything for 3 or 4 hours and then become stable with mild or moderate vomiting.

Watery stools in combination with vomiting carry the greatest risk for causing dehydration.

The younger the child, the greater the risk for dehydration.

Dehydration: How to Recognize

Dehydration means that the body has lost excessive fluids, usually from vomiting and/or diarrhea. An associated weight loss of more than 3% is required. In general, mild diarrhea, mild vomiting or a mild decrease in fluid intake does not cause dehydration.

Dehydration is the most important complication of diarrhea.

The following are signs of dehydration:

Decreased urination (no urine in more than 8 hours) occurs early in the process of dehydration. So does a dark yellow, concentrated yellow. If the urine is light straw colored, your child is not dehydrated.

Dry tongue and inside of the mouth. Dry lips are not helpful.

Dry eyes with decreased or absent tears

In infants, a depressed or sunken soft spot

Delayed capillary refill longer than 2 seconds. This refers to the return of a pink color to the thumbnail after you press it and make it pale. Ask your doctor to teach you how to do this test.

Irritable, tired out or acting ill. If your child is alert, happy and playful, he or she is not dehydrated.

A child with severe dehydration becomes too weak to stand or very dizzy if tries to stand.

Return to School

Your child can return to child care or school after vomiting and fever are gone.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For more information, click here.

Age under 12 weeks with fever above 100.4° F (38.0° C) rectally (Caution: Do NOT give your baby any fever medicine before being seen.)

You think your child needs to be seen urgently

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If

You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently

Has vomited over 24 hours

Fever present for more than 3 days

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

You have other questions or concerns

Vomiting is a recurrent chronic problem

Parent Care at Home If

Mild-moderate vomiting with diarrhea (probably viral gastroenteritis) and you don't think your child needs to be seen

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For more information, click here.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. For more information, click here.